My advice is to avoid the shortcomings of a "mistake" window that some are trying to pass off to you so they can recoup some of their losses. Please. Opt for a custom fit replacement window built for YOUR house.

Single Hung windows? Do you clean your windows? If so, you'll be cleaning them from a ladder outside if you let them talk you in to single hung windows.

Personally, I would break off any discussions with the, "we've got some great deals on mistakes" dealer. Just my professional advice. You don't have to follow it.

Alside and Simonton are just two sources. There are better windows than both if you're looking for high quality and high performance.

Final advice on windows. Find a quality vinyl window that offers Super Spacer or Truseal as a STANDARD feature.

Installation. Choose an AWDI certified installer. It really doesn't impress me how long an installer has been doing it. What matters most? Is he doing it right.

Michael

Thank you very much, Michael. After visiting a few different forums, you are the first to give me good advice!

I felt a bit weird about Company 2's "mistake" windows. I will let the installer (who owns his own construction company but also does installations for this company) come by as scheduled so that I can ask some questions, but I will not let them install those windows. While I don't mind single-hung (we live in a ranch and can easily reach the windows from outside), I think Company 2 is trying to be a bit "slick".

You mentioned that there are better brands than Alside and Simonton. In your opinion, are there better brands at a similar price?

I am going to look for the AWDI information now. Hopefully, it is available on a website. =D

Thank you, again.

Better brands at a similar price? Absolutely.

Many times, more than I want to admit, homeowners will pay outrageous prices for a vinyl window that is inferior to others in many aspects.

Email me with your location and I can give you advice there that I can't give here.

Window endorsements are prohibited here.

Michael

Michael,

I'd like to know what window you consider better than Simonton at a similar price. As far as I know it isn't against any rules to give an opinion on windows on this site. Both of us have done it many times. Why the secrecy now?

So, skydawggy, you think there isn't a better brand than Simonton at a similar price? I'm not certain which Simonton windows Company 2 has.

I am gathering all opinions...

sky,

I own a wholesale window distribution center. Therefore, I've received warnings from the forum gods about endorsing windows that I offer to our certified home improvement contractors.

I'm considering taking on the Kensington line of windows. They have a very nice offering of good, better, best vinyl replacements that are similar in price and similar or better in quality than most mass produced vinyl products.

The thrust of our business is wood windows. Vinyl doesn't excite me, but when a customer is asking, I want a product that he or she doesn't have to compete with every Tom, Dick and Harry over price.

Homeowner, The Kensington Line is offered in your area.

Michael

Thank you! I am checking also on the Kensington line. I'm not attached to the idea of vinyl windows only, but I think, for the cost, it is my best option. I also want to be certain to have good energy efficiency.

Thank you, again!

Homeowner,

It depends on how you define "better window". To me better window is comprised of many factors. Overall quality, U factors SHGC, air infiltration, design, available options, promptness of factory service, warranty service etc.

Some companies make very good windows, but are severly deficient when it comes to warranty service. They will almost always try to shift the blame to the installer. Just read some of the threads here about issues people have getting serviced. Others may not make as good a quality as others, but excell when there is a customer problem. So yeah, when you consider all these factors, I think Simonton is an excellent choice to consider.

Michael,

I hear what you are saying. I can tell you and the moderators of this forum that the day I recieve a warning because of an "opinion" I gave on a particular window, will be the last time I ever post on this site. People come here looking for advice and recommendations and the day that I am resticted from giving mine, based on many years of experience, will be the end of my voluminous contributions to this forum.

sky,

I'm ashamed to say this, but it's true around these parts;

In a week, you'll be forgotten.

Michael

Sky,

I appreciate your opinion. It's hard to sort through all the garbage out there, expecially when some dealers are less than honest. To this day, I just don't understand why some business's insist on operating like shady used car salesmen. Anyway, I have a few questions for you if you have the time.

I am replacing Weathervain wood windows that are only 11 years old. Only windows the builder would use and the company promptly went out of business. The things are just falling apart. Rot, bad hardware. You name it. Needless to say, I'm a little leary of wood windows right now. From a practical standpoint, vinyl seems like a better solution to most window problems, yet I can't seem to get past the idea that they are a "lower tier" product. Is there any reference out there that discusses the real world diffence between wood and vinyl. My home is realtively large and there are a LOT of windows. I have looked at some lesser quality, nice priced windows and some very expensive vinyl windows (Schuco) and there is a huge diffrence between them. Have not yet looked at wood.

What type of windows do you see going into some of the higher end homes? Am I a bad person for thinking vinyl may be the way to go? :-)

What some see as 2nd tier today may very well be top tier tomorrow. There was a time when all homes were made from stone, then brick, then wood, then aluminum siding then vinyl siding....and so it goes.

With that said, I see many wood window manuf. becoming 2nd tier as they struggle to keep a balance between quality, price and profit. Do they lower the quality to be more competitive on price and market to a less educated and/or budget conscious consumer or do they keep the quality and price high and hope a more educated consumer will recognize the benefits of installing a better grade and not be influenced by budget constraints? Over time many manuf. have created different lines of windows with different quality points and hoped their reputation on higher priced lines will carry over with consumers for their lower grades. Andersen is the latest example of this with their purchase of Silverline windows and Pella with their Thermastar line.

Personally, I think a lot comes down to what you are willing to spend and the style of home you own. Transitional homes usually get the lower end vinyl. Historic homes or owners seeking to keep their homes as original as possible will use wood. Upscale homes tend to go either to high grade vinyl or wood depending on styling. Many Colonials and 70's Contemporary's go with wood. Many newer Contemporarys go with vinyl.

Ultimately it's your home. Go with what you like, but I would hardly consider all vinyl second tier these days. If you saw some of the $million plus homes we have put vinyl windows into, you would understand what I mean.

Our business is 70% wood, 30% vinyl. It also depends on what you believe in, how you offer it, how you educate the consumer and how you stand behind what you sell.

Our wood windows sell because we offer a prefinish service to all our contractors. That helps them sell more wood windows. We offer a high quality wood window with SuperSpacer. NO metal spacers for us!

Most of our "big" vinyl guys have told us that wood has opened up a whole new business opportunity for them. We also have vinyl dealers who can't sell a wood window because they sell price, not value, nor do they "listen" to what is of interest to the customer. They just assume everybody wants vinyl.

We also install our wood windows in million dollar homes. Sometimes we remove vinyl windows from million dollar homes and reinstall wood windows. :)

We do very little new construction. In fact, we avoid new construction. We like getting paid on time.

Michael

STAY AWAY form schuco. I am now going on a year trying to get seals fixed. Last i heard the seals were shipped in November. I think they should be here by now. I have the E-mail that says they were shipped. schuco is junk as far as i am concerned.